Jack Ako feared he might not survive the wait. At 25 and weighing nearly 276 kilos, he said he was told it could take up to five years to get help from the NHS, the British public health service. In April 2022, he traveled to Turkey to have a private gastric band fitted. He then began changing his diet and exercising regularly.
Before, he said, he consumed up to 10,000 calories a day and spent many hours sitting down. Then he researched nutrition and exercise; his wife encouraged him and helped prepare his meals. Jack went from being unable to climb stairs to running five kilometers and lifting weights.
Today, he works as a personal trainer and is preparing to compete in bodybuilding. His journey raises another question: what options are available to someone who fears they may not be able to wait for the care they need?
